Global Banks: AI Investments Await a Promising Year in 2026

SadaNews - The global banks have agreed that artificial intelligence was a powerful driver of economic activity in 2025 amidst the rapid transformations occurring worldwide in this field. While most still expect the investment momentum in the sector to continue through 2026, there are varying views on potential risks and returns.

In this report, we review the main expected investment trends in artificial intelligence according to reports issued by banks around the world.

AI Investments in 2026

JPMorgan provided one of the most optimistic outlooks, suggesting that artificial intelligence will continue to transform sectors and investment opportunities. The bank expects that investments by major technology firms in the United States will exceed $500 billion compared to $150 billion in 2023, which accounts for about 25% of the total capital expenditure expected in the US market this year.

The bank also sees significant growth potential in AI investments, currently accounting for about 1% of the global GDP, compared to levels of 2% to 5% in historical investment cycles for major technologies such as electricity, railways, and communications, indicating that the current surge in AI investment is still in its early stages.

For BlackRock, artificial intelligence will reshape economies and markets in 2026. It noted that investment in the sector has tripled from its historical levels in the United States.

Main Beneficiaries of AI Deals

Ben Powell, Chief Investment Strategist for the Asia region at BlackRock, stated on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Finance Week earlier this month that the wave of capital spending on AI infrastructure is still on the rise and has not yet peaked, indicating that major tech companies are racing to achieve supremacy in this field, with no real signs of a slowdown in investment pace, according to Forex Empire.

Powell added that the main beneficiaries of this investment cycle are not just AI model developers, but also companies that provide the essential infrastructure for building and operating AI technologies, such as chip manufacturers, energy companies, copper suppliers, and network equipment providers, emphasizing that these parties will be at the forefront of beneficiaries from the accelerating global demand for AI.

Meanwhile, Barclays Bank sees the investment momentum in AI shifting from companies developing the technology to those adopting it, particularly in sectors like healthcare, defense, and cybersecurity.

AI as a Profit Driver for Companies

From the UK, HSBC stated that the pessimism regarding weak returns from AI investments is exaggerated, affirming that innovation, especially driven by AI technologies, will remain the primary engine for global corporate profit growth in 2026.

The bank also pointed out that investment in AI will be a key pillar for growth opportunities in Asia, with economies such as China, Japan, and South Korea distinguished by innovation-led growth, while Hong Kong and Singapore emerge as attractive investment destinations thanks to their low valuations and high profit yields.

The British bank believes that the global investment wave in AI is driving an acceleration in spending on data centers, boosting energy demand, and providing strong opportunities in sectors such as energy, industry, financial services, and utilities.

Dirk Steven, Chief Global Investment Strategist at Deutsche Bank, hinted during a conversation with Asharq that the massive spending on AI will be one of the factors supporting market rises in 2026.